System for producing high-tension currents.



C. I. ZIMMERMAN, DECD.

J. G- ZIMMERMA N, ADMINISTRATOR.

SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING HIGH TENSION CURRENTS.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.25.1909. I 1 139fi23, Patented May 18, 1915. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING HIGH TENSION CURRENTS. APPLICATION FILED AUG.25} 19.09.

Patented May 18, 1910.

4 SHEETSSI'IEET 2.

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C. l. ZIMMERMAN, DECD.

1. a. ZIMMERMAN. ADMINISTRATOR.

SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING HIGH TENSION CURRENTS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.25 1909;

1,139,623., Patented May 18, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

C. l. ZIMMERMAN, DECD.

1. a. ZIMMERMAN, ADMINISTRATOR. SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING HI GH TENSION CURRENTS. APPLICATION FILED M1615, 1909.

Patented May 18, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- CLARENCE I. ZIMMERMAN, DECEASED, LATE QF 'MADIS ON, WISCONSIN, BY JAMES G..

.ZIMIVIERMAN, ADMINISTRATORQASSIGNQR, BY MfiSNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO SAID I JAMES G. ZIMMERMAN, OF CHICAGO,- ILLINOIS, INDIVIDUALLY. I

SYSTEM non rnonuome HIGH-TENSION: ounnnlv'rs.

1,139,623. i Specification of Lettersfatent. ;P tfit d 18 Q Application filed August 25, 190 9. Serial-No. 514,548. i r v To all whom it may concern:

1/,- shows 1n dlagrammat c arrangement appa 5 5 Be it known that CLARENCE I. ZIMMER- ratus similar tothat shown. in .QEig. 1, with MAN, deceased, late a citizen of the United thefaddition that the terminals oftliespark States, residing at Madison, in, the county .of gap employed-in the generator circuit are Dane and State of Wisconsin, did invent a specially, constr dted to 7 stand; eXces'sive M- certain new and useful'lmprovement in SYS Wear; Fig. 3 ,soWs -in diagrammati 3 -3 terns for Producing High-Tension Currents, I'angement apparatus similar to that shown I of which the following is a full, clear, conin Fig.1, the difference being that gmea-ns cise, and exact description, reference being are shown in this figure foninore easily 1' had to the accompanying drawings, forming starting and breaking .thefcurrenti fioW a part of this specification. .across the spark gap: employedthan ispos- This invention relates to an improved 'sible with ,jthe apparatus shown in Fig.1; means for modifying the form of'rcurrent Fig, 4 shows in diagrammaticlarrangement waves deliveredto acircuit by means of a the circuitsuse'd- 1n the invention-in producsource of electric energy whether inte-rl'l iitiilg currents of the character described -Joy tent, pulsating or alternating in type. means of a pole-changer' from a direct cur- The invention has for its object so transrent source; Fig. -5'shpws forming such waves of current that the eleche relatiori'betweenthe voltage deliv ed by tromotive forces producing them' are comthe alternat g c rent d the v ag pr paratively high and that thecurrentwaves dllced result 01' the a gem n of thus produced are of comparatlvelyshort mechanism shown inlFig. l;e Fig. .,6 is avgs duration. This change may be accomplished diagrammatic "arrange'inent of a modificain theelectric circuit whether use is made ofzz -iticn' Similar t0 Figthe differen e being. transforming means or not, as a result of *ithat the" alternatingv current source of supwhich the invention afionds a desirable ply is replaced bya irect current source; means for the production of intermittent *Fig. 7 showsa diagrammatic 'arrangen1ent";3o currents of extremely high voltage. These o f a.mod-ification similar to'fzFig'B, the di f-gfr' currents are particularly adapted for use in 'ference being that a motor. is 'used to'" syn-1'- connection with wireless telegraphy and also" chronously operate the-spark gap instead for use in X-ray work, the ignition appara-a of the electromagnet shown inFig. 3. v tus of gas engines, etc. V

' It will be understood that high tension throughout the several W is a relative term and that this ih vention As shown in Fig. 1, an alternating current may be useful in connection with the progenerator 1 is connected by wire'2 with one duction of currents of any' tension so long terminal 3 of a spark gap 4, the other termias the same mode of operation and result is nal 5 of which is connected by wire 6 with a maintained. ,High is herein intended to condenser 7. "Theother terminal of the condesignate a current under tension 'sufiiciently denser is connected by wire 8 with the priapplicable to uses where tensions lower high to jump a gap and those skilled in the mary winding 9' of an induction icoil, the art are hereby advised that this invention is other terminal of'which is connected by w1re those in the uses above outlined are desired. The secondary winding 11 of the transformer diagrammatically g I 1 Similar numerals refer to similar parts 35 than 10 with the other terminal of the generator 1.

This invention is applicable to currents produced either by alternating current gen-. erators, pulsating currentgenerators or cur rents produced by.n1eans of pole-changers from sources of direct current.

The several drawings illustrating the invention are as follows:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the invention'inbne of its simplest forms, showing the mechanism employed in connection with an alternating tcurrent generator for.

producing currents as described; Fig. 2

is connected with a suitable translating device 12, which may be of any form, as for instance, a spark gap or the sending apparatus of a wireless telegraph or a similar mech-, anism. The alternating current generator 1 is assumed to be adapted to produce an electromotive force which it impresses upon the wires 2 and 1 0 of the circuit described of the form shown at 13 in Fig. 5. As a result, I

during a positive impulse, a difference of potential is impressed upon thespark gap 4, increasing in amount and having a constant tendency to send current across the gapin one direction. When the potential of the positive wave reaches a value suliicient to rupture the air-between the terminals 3 and 5, current jumps across the gap and begins the charging of the condenser 7. As soon as the gap 4 is bridged-by the current the resistance of thegap is much reduced, as a result of the'vaporization of a small'portion of the positive one of the electrodes 3 and 5.

his prqduces a momentary flow of current of high voltage, such'that the condenser 7, .which is fsuch a'capacity to permit it, is almost instantaneously charged. When this condition is nearly reached, the potential upon, the terminals and 5 is brought to nearly the samevalue, and therefore current ceases to flow across the, gap- 1. From-this it follows that the current flowing through the primary winding 9gis ofvery short duration and of practically the maximum valrue that the generator 1 can .cause to flow through the circuit described, and that therefore the core of .the transformer is practically instantane- .25 ouslyj magnetized since, the ratio of the transformer; windings being determined, the

voltage'developed by thesecbndar-y winding- 11 depends 'upop the rate of change of the magnetic flux through the transformer core, it follows that a voltage of extremely high value is produced at the instant when the current; flowing momentarily through the primary-winding 9 accomplishes the magnetization of the transformerTeore'zg voltage thus produced is indicated 5 by the. peak 14; of the electromotive-v force wave. The gap 4 and. the condenser 7 are so. adjustedthat the completemagnetization of the transformer corefand the cessation of current, flow. across the gap 4 occur before the end of the positive wave of electromotive force 13 producing such current flow. As a result," immediately upon the cessation of current flow through the primary winding 9, the magnetization of the transformer core at once drops to its zero-value and thus produces a negative impulse 15. of induced electromotive force in the secondarywinding 11 of the transformer. This negative impulse willfhowever, be of somewhat smaller value than the positive impulse 14, and' the length of they two impulses 14: and 15 will depend largely upon-the magnetic constants. of the manner similar to thewave 13 to.produce impulses 14 and 15'! similar to impulses-14 The transformer used'in Fig. 1. The succeeding, increased. negative wave 13 of electromotive force developed by the generator 1- will operate in a' 66-. Jand 15, but of opposite sign. The cycle of motor 16 driven from a suitable source of electric energy 17.- The motor 16is connected with the rollers 3? and 5 by means of a counter-shaft 18 and suitable belting 19 and 20. En this way a maximum-amount of surface is presented to the points'of arcing in order to extend as much as possible the 75. life of the terminals of the sparkgap. desired the motor 16 may be dispensed withand therollers 3 and 5*.may be rotate'dby hand. In this (figure the secondary windi ing 11 of the transformer is connected with the ground 21 and the serial conductor 22 in parallel with the spark gap 23, as might be the case for the sending of wireless messages. In the-modification shown in *Fig. ,3, the terminals 3 and 50f the spark gap 4: are n0r- 8'5 mally in nearer positionthan they could be placed with the arrangement shown in Fig.

1, and are adapted to be moved apart by, the current flow through the primary winding of, the, transformer. In this modification,

the terminal 3 is, secured to a vibratory, mem- .cient value to cause the current to flow between the terminals 3, and 5 of the gap 4, the

coil 25; ,operates to attract the vibratory member 24 and thus draws the terminals 3.

and-'5 apart. This results in a condition jfound desirable in connection with the use of a condenser, 7 of. comparatively small capacity that the initial reslstance' of the gap 4 may be in a measure maintained, since the reduction in resistance due to the partial vaporization of the positive contact is compensated, for to some degree by the greater length of the arc, and in this. manner the III duration of current flow across the gap 4 maybe shortened and thus the inductive effept upon he secondary inding 11 may be Asshown in Fig.4, a pole-changer 27 is arranged so that itsgmotor-winding 28'is connected by wire .29 to-the pivotal point of one member 30of the double switch 31. The other terminal of the winding 28 is .connected to the-block 32, forming' the rigid sup- 12! 11 1 hesp n 3. i h ibra g m ybe fi e th po arehan rt- The Sprmg 33 carries inelectrical contact therewith a spring 35. .constitu i ens e i na i the Y tively,

wire 59, back to battery engage the contacts 39 and-40connected with the terminals of battery 41 when in one position, or the terminals 42 and 43 when moved to their other position, such terminals 42 and 43 being "connected by wires 44 and 45 with the terminals of the battery 46. The vibratory member 34. of the pole-changer carries two circuit-changihg contacts 47 and 48, insulated from each other-and from the spring 33, and connected by flexible conductors and'wires 49 and 50 with the terminals of the battery 46. The condenser 7 is connected by wire 8 with'one terminal of the primary winding-9 of the transformer, as in Fig. 1, and the other terminalof such condenser is connected by wires 51 and 52 with 54 adapted to be engagedone at a time by contacts 47 and 48, respectively. The other terminal'of the primary winding 9 is connected by wire 10 with the terminals 55 and 56 of spark gaps 57 and 58, respectively, the other terminals of which 59 and '60 are connected to a common bar and carried by the vibratory member 34 of the pole-changer. The terminals 59 and 60 Gfthe spark ga s 57 and 58 are connected by a wire 61 with t e contacts 62' and 63, which areadapted to be engaged one at a time by the contacts 47 and 48, respectively, carried by the vibratory member 34. From the apparatus and con-' nections justtdcscribed, it will be seen that when the switch 31 is moved to connect the winding 28 either with the battery 41 or 46, as desired, that the arm'34 is vibrated so as to bring the contacts 47 and 48 into engagement with the contacts 53 and 63, respectively, when the arm is moved to the left and with the contacts 62 and 54, respecwhen the arm is moved to the right, thus alternately closing the circuit from the battery 46 throughthe wires 49 and 50 in reverse directions through. the primary winding 9 of th transformer.

When the vibratory arm 34 is in the position shown in the drawings,'the circuit may be traced as follows: battery 46, wire 49, contact 47, contact 62, wire 61, terminal 60, gap 58, terminal 56, Wire 10, primary winding 9, wire 8, condenser 7, wire 52, contact 54, contact 48,

46. When the vibratory arm 34 is moved to the left by the action of the winding'28 to bring thecontacts- 47 and 48 into engagement. with the contacts 53 and 63, respectively, from the battery 46 may be traced as follows: battery 46, wire 49, tact 53, wire 51, condenser 7, wire 8, primary winding- 9 wire. 10, terminal 55, spark gap 57 "terminal 59, wire61, contact 63, contact 48, wire 50, back to battery 46. From this also performs the apparatus shown in contacts 53 and I "terminals 3 and 5 of "normally in the circuit 1 contact 47 conit appears-that each impulse of current de-- livered by the battery 46- to the primary winding 9 passes over one of the spark gaps 57 and 58', and that the spark gap operating for any particular impulse serves the same purpose as described in connection withFig. -1. It is to be observed that each spark gap the function of interrupting the current flow before the circuit is broken at the corresponding contacts closed by the vibratory arm 34, as a result of which the wear upon such contacts, which occurs almost entirely upon breaking the circuit rather than making the circuit in ordinary practice, is eliminated. The modification produced in the waves of electromotive force in this modification of the invention, while similarto that produced in connectionwith Fig. 1" asdescribed above, may, however,.difl'er in degree, depending upon the arrangement of the apparatus and the adjustment of the polechanger and condenser 7.

In the modified arrangement shown in Fig. 6 the connections are similar'to those used in Fig. 3, with the exception that, the alternating current. generator 1 is replaced by a battery 65 and a switch 66. In this modification, in order to start the operation of the device, it may be the spark-gap 4 be contact. For this condition, when the switch 66 is closed current at once flows under the full potential of the battery 65 through the primary winding 9 and the resistance 26 to charge the condenser 7. At

operation depending-largely upon the naturalrate of vibration of the vibratory member 24 carrying the terminal 3. The operation of this modification will give results similar to those produced by the modification in Fig.4, the difference the modification shown in Fig. 6 current being that with pulsations are directed through the primary winding 9 constantly in the same direction, a I 120,-"

while in the modification shown in Fig. 4

these pulsations are directed through the primary. winding directions. For the modification shown in Fig. 6 the form of current waves produced in the primary winding would be'as indicated while the induced current;

at 13 in Fig. 5,

waves produced in the secondary winding would all be as shown at 14 and 15 in Fig.5. The operation of the modification shown in Fig.7 is similar to that shown in Fig. 3,

9 alternately in reverse 'ticular embodiments herein described, it is with the exception that the vibratory member 24 is replaced, by a lever 73-,-to the upper end of which the terminal 3 is secured. The lever 7 3 is connected by a link 7-5 with a crank 76 carried by a synchronous motor 69,

the arrangement being-such that the rotation. 4. In an electrical translating system, a-

of the motor-will serve to alternately bring the terminals 3 and 5 nearer together, and farther apart in a manner similar to the in such inductive device to vary the inducoperation of the vibratory member 24 by.

the e ectromagnet 25, shown in Fig. 3.- As shown in Fig. 7, the motor 69 may be supplied with current from the generator 1, through the wires 67 and 72, suitable resistance 68 being included in circuit to prop erly control the current supplied to -,the motor 69. yA switch 71 is provided between the wires 70 and 72 to start or stop the motor 69 as desired. In this Way the length of the spark gap 4 is varied synchronously with the alternations produced by the generator 1 and the resultant effect upon theprimary winding 9..is substantially the same as that already described in connection with Fig. 3.

While the invention is shown in the parnot, however, limited to these constructions,

but any equivalent that may suggest itself to those skilled in the art is claimed broadly. The following is claimed:

1. In an electrical translating system, a" c1rcu1t,'a' source for lmpressing upon such circuit a periodic electromotive' force, a translatlng device in such circult, a spark gap and condenser in series with said source and said. translating device in such circuit'for developing in the translating device an electromagnetic force wave, the complete active portion of each period of'which is of shorter'duration than the period of the applied force, and means. for varyingthe length of the spark gap by the current flowing through-the circuit.

2. In'an electrical translating system, a circuit, a source for impressing upon such circuit a periodic. electrom'otive force, a translating device in such)circuit,' a spark gap and condenser in: series with said source and said translating device in such circuit for developing inthe translating device an electromagnetic forcewave, the com-- plete active portion of each period'of which is of shorter duration than the period of the applied force, and a magnet in: such circuit for increasing the length of the spark gap when current flows across such gap.

3. In an electrical translating system, a

tive efiect of such device, and means for varymg the length of the spark gap by the current flowing through the circuit.

source 'of' alternating current, acircuit extending from such source, an inductive device in such circuit, a spark gap and a condenserin series with said source and said inductive device in such circuit, such spark gap and condenser together adapted to change the effect of the alternating current in suchinductive device to vary the inductive effect of such device, and a magnet in such circuit for increasing the length of the spark gap when current flows across such gap.

,5. In an electrical translating system, a-

circuit including in series arrangement a prime source of current, a translating device, spark terminals, and a condenser.

6. In.an electrical translating system, a cir cuit including in .series arrangement a prime source of current, a primary Winding of a transformer, a spark gap, anda condenser.

7. In an electrical translating system, a circult including in series arrangement a source of currentya translating devlce, spark terminals, and a condenser, and a magnet.

for separating the terminals.

8. In an electrical translating system, a circuit including in series arran ement a source ofcurrent, a primary win ing of a transformer, a spark gap, and acondenser,

current inthe circuit.

source of alternating current, a circuit ex.-

tending from such source, an inductive'de vice n such c1rcu1t,a spark gap and a condenser m serles with sald source and sald inductive devicein such circuit, such spark 10. In an electrical translating system, a primary circuit including in series'a prime source-of current, a-spark gap, a condenser, and the primary winding of an induction coil, and a-secondary circuit including the secondary winding of the induction coil, and a translating device.

11. In an electrical translating system, a

primary circuit including in series a pr1me source ofcurrent, a spark gap, a condenser, and the primary winding of an induction coil, and a secondary circuit including the secondary winding of said induction coil, and a spark gap;

In witness whereof, I'hereunto subscribe my name this 12th day of August, A. D. 1909.

JAMES G. ZIMMERMAN, Administrator for Clarence I Zimmerman.

Witnesses:

MARY A. DISGH, HENRY G. DISCH. 

